Springbok coach Peter de Villiers conceded to Sport24 at an Umhlanga media briefing near here on Thursday that the big Free State flanker would now not play any role in the Castle Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth next weekend.

It had originally been hoped that Smith, who is in arduous rehabilitation from a torn Achilles tendon in February, might be good for 20 minutes or thereabouts off the bench in the last Bok fixture ahead of RWC 2011.

But the forecast for his comeback has effectively been downgraded.

“This conference was going along well until you started this,” joked De Villiers, when asked for an update on the progress of still-injured loose forwards like Smith, Schalk Burger and Willem Alberts, who have been with the Bok camp ahead of Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies but not yet available for selection.

“Schalk will only be ready for our first game (against Wales on September 11) at the World Cup, but he’s working harder than I’ve ever seen him do.

“He’s also that type of player who doesn’t need many games to get his form back.

“Juan is still struggling a lot ... we hope to see him perhaps play some games for the Cheetahs before we go. That will be his only chance, I think.”

Of course time is beginning to count ominously against Smith - whom De Villiers dearly wants at the World Cup after describing him as “one of the first names on the sheet” when fit.

Presumably not being able to contribute to the Bok cause in Port Elizabeth means Smith will also be unlikely to feature significantly - if at all - in the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup match next Saturday at home to the Pumas.

They then play consecutive away matches against Griquas on August 27, and the Leopards on September 3 - hopefully reasonably good opportunities for Smith to get game time, although the Bok squad would be in departure mode for New Zealand by the time the second game comes along.

Brighter news was that De Villiers said Alberts, the big Sharks ball-carrier, would be ready for consideration next week.

“He’d probably have been ready to go this week, but as we did with Heinrich (Brüssow) we want to first be confident that he can last for seven, eight games going to a World Cup.

“I’m more at ease (on the broad Bok loose forward situation) today than I was on Tuesday.”

Sport24

Comments

Kok - 2011-08-11 15:41

Time to retire. I'm sure Naka has room for you on Free State's coaching team.

Thing with Smith is that you don't see what he does until you watch him a little. I always wondered what all the fuss was about and why he was rated until one day I only watched him play and boy can he play Rugby. P.S Kok wat happened to Richie on Saturday. Was that lipstick or blood all over his mouth when Quade Cooper got to him. He looked a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:45

@Sharksfor ever- did you look at the score board at the end of the 80 minutes. That is what counts, little sister!

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:47

@Sharksfor ever- did you look at the score board at the end of the 80 minutes. That is what counts, little sister!

Tools1 - 2011-08-11 16:49

Best blindside flank in the world. We have no real replacment for this guy. This should have been priority number 1 getting Juan ready.

Lood - 2011-08-11 16:55

CHIEF KOK, GAAN K@K IN DIE LAND MET DIE LONG WIT WOLK JOU KNOPKOP

Sh@rks Fever - 2011-08-11 17:05

@Maori. No matter what you say we still have the World Cup in our trophy cabinet. If it wasn't for politics in this country we would klap the AB's every year

Pity he isn`t fit. I don`t think he`ll make it to RWC either, as he is injury prone, just like a few other boks. (e.g. Heinrich Brüssow). It is difficult for players to get to 100% fitness and then play flat out without worrying about further injuries...

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:25

Maybe they must try ballet - risk of getting injuries lower

Chief Kok - 2011-08-11 16:31

And get some nice tutu's and than we can all be happy - famous words of Pieter Snor

Wormtongue - 2011-08-11 19:07

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are so pleased to announce that Maori and Kok will in future be performing the Black Swan in black tutus on-field, while the ABs are performing their Haka.
It will be a solo performance, since Maori/Kok is so obviously the same guy.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:03

Over the hill, ou swaer!

BiggestBull - 2011-08-11 19:20

Jou ma ook.

BiggestBull - 2011-08-11 16:09

All that matters is that Spies is back. What a magnificent talent and a true Bok legend. Good luck Pierre and may you again soar like an eagle. Best of luck my friend.
Regards
Frikkie

docraven - 2011-08-11 16:15

You sound like you in love with the guy.Maybe someone can organised you a pair of his signed underwear(used) and you can wear them to school.

Hendrik - 2011-08-11 16:16

Spies? you must be joking? I think if he bumbs into a 1 year old he will fall down. He almost never cross the advantage line. Wonder if all the steroids will be out before the world cup starts, or will there be some kind of brain tumor excuse this time?

Rick - 2011-08-11 16:16

Bok Legend?!?!? God you talk the Biggest load of Bull (excuse the pun).

Spike1977@24.com - 2011-08-11 16:31

docraven - Please elaborate.
Thanks you in advance.

Rob van den Heuvel - 2011-08-11 16:37

Me thinks Frikkie and Lloyd share a brain cell.

Uhuru - 2011-08-11 16:37

ag nee man frikkie jy soek mos nou vir lelike comments! ;-)

JohnnyBB - 2011-08-11 16:38

...Thanks goodness Duane Vermeulen is injured.... .....worst no 8 in SA..!! ...slow as a tortoise... ...overrated... . ......just like the 10-year- loser-team...

Spies is the biggest wannabe Springbok centre in history - as an 8th man he is useless.

GraemeBB - 2011-08-11 18:05

All the best to Spies. Spies must prove that he belongs there. I think towards the end of the S15 he was looking better. The best way to silence the critics is to play them quiet. BUT, if Spies doesnt come to the party, the coaching staff must do what is best for the Boks, and use Alberts or Duane.
That being said, Alberts was poor towards the end of the S15, and I hope that when he returns, he is back to his best too.
Go Bokke

@Hendrik - speaking of brain tumors, since when have you had one? I get irratated by clearly uneducated comments. Stick to what you are good at, and thats not rugby.

Hendrik - 2011-08-12 07:58

@GraemeBB, I'm not making fun of brain tumors, I'm just asking, what kind of excuse are they going to use this time if Spies's steroids are not worked out yet. The last time it was something on the lungs, and hey presto after the world cup no one ever heard of it again, and with that other tour it was a fractured finger. A FRACTURED FINGER? They just tape that together and play on!

adrian - 2011-08-12 09:59

@biggest bull..... you sound freaky frikkie....... You must have a some homo-fobie or something with the way you speak about old wikkel-spies.... He just a bunch of steroids and he is the absolute worst player in the bok team. Have a look at the stats, this guy does absolutely Gio Aplon will fair better at number 8 than "HE MAN"...

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:27

Games against Griquas and Leopards for world cup preparation - that sound like a solid plan!

Maori - 2011-08-11 16:45

@Sharksfor ever- did you look at the score board at the end of the 80 minutes. That is what counts, little sister!

Crawfords - 2011-08-11 17:07

What counts are World Cup Trophies - SA have won 2 out of 4, NZ have won 1 out of 6, and it was won when SA weren't involved!

Sh@rks Fever - 2011-08-11 17:12

@Maori. No matter what you say we still have the World Cup in our trophy cabinet. If it wasn't for politics in this country we would klap the AB's every year

Barry Edwards - 2011-08-11 19:40

@Maori. Yes and our Tri nations starts on Saturday !

Wormtongue - 2011-08-11 22:08

"Ma se Maori", as mentioned before - why do you (and all the other names you go by on this blog) not take a fresh look at your birth certificate... Does it mention Christchurch? Or even New Zealand? Oh shucks... And how about your passport. No? We thought so...
Oh, but you bought a black jersey - that really counts - you go girl - congratulations!!!! That fully entitles you to take pride in the accomplishments of the NZ National Rugby team. And to belittle the rugby supporters that support the team of their own country.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

rudster - 2011-08-11 18:47

kok jy is 'n regte cock.daar is 2 vlanke in 'n span p03phol

BiggestBull - 2011-08-11 19:13

wat is 'vlank'?

kosie - 2011-08-12 09:35

@biggest bull .... spell check.... thanks

Max - 2011-08-11 21:12

different flanker to richie mccaw. blindside as apposed to open side ... they're both the best in their DIFFERENT positions. however i think a fit HB might be challenging mccaw in the near future!

Bok Fan - 2011-08-12 07:34

Juan is a mighty force on the field. He is one of a kind. A combination of Spies,Bakkies and Bruce Fordyce.

Raeez - 2011-08-12 08:16

Juan Smith at 40% or a guy lik Josh Strauss at 100%. Not so sure the best team will go to New Zealand...just saying

o Great one - 2011-08-12 08:36

stop supporting " tinkerbell`s boks " till they get a real coach and fire old tinkerbell, we have the power as supporters to demand change.